Skin conditioning article

ABSTRACT

A skin conditioning article has a springy and pliable body of layers of nylon net fabric with a mesh of about one-eighth inch, more or less. In the illustrated embodiment, the body is elongated and has four layers of fabric gathered at either end to form necks and pleats. The fabric is first doubled upon itself to form a folded end edge. Both sides of the fabric are then doubled over to form a pair of folded side edges and open edges proximate each other at the center of one face of the body. The layers are secured to each other in any suitable manner, as by stitching, proximate each of the opposite ends of the body, and this stitching may also secure ties to the body for gathering the layers and forming the pleats and necks. The open edges of the body layers provide access to a pocket, formed by the folded end edge of the body, for retaining a bar of soap or other suitable article. The skin may be lubricated and the net fabric rubbed over the skin to cleanse and condition the skin.

United States Patent [1 Giunta SKIN CONDITIONING ARTICLE [76] Inventor:Grace G. Giunta, 576 Riviera Dr.,

Hillsborough, Fla. 33606 [22] Filed: Aug. 2, 1972 [21] Appl. No.:277,365

[52] US. Cl. 128/67, 15/222 [51] Int. Cl A6lh 7/00 [58] Field of Search128/62, 63, 65, 67; 401/6-8; 15/222, 227

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,711,889 1/1973 Jennings15/227 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,228,894 3/1960 France 15/222Primary Examiner-Lawrence W. Trapp Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert F.Ruemeli [i 3,812,849 [451 May 28,1974

[5 7 ABSTRACT A skin conditioning article has a springy and pliable bodyof layers of nylon net fabric with a mesh of about one-eighth inch, moreor less. In the illustrated embodiment, the body is elongated and hasfour layers of fabric gathered at either end to form necks and pleats.The fabric is first doubled upon itself to form a folded end edge. Bothsides of the fabric are then doubled over to form a pair of folded sideedges and open edges proximate each other at the center of one face ofthe body. The layers are secured to each other in any suitable manner,as by stitching, proximate each of the opposite ends of the body, andthis stitching may also secure ties to the body for gathering the layersand forming the pleats and necks. The open edges of the body layersprovide access to a pocket, formed by the folded end edge of the body,for retaining a bar of soap or other suitable article. The skin may belubricated and the net fabric rubbed over the skin to cleanse andcondition the skin.

22 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures m n mum 28 m4 8L812l849 FIGI SKINCONDITIONING ARTICLE This invention relates to a skin conditioningarticle and method and, more particularly, to such an article and methodfor use in bathing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various types of articles are well known foruse in bathing and conditioning the skin. For example, such articlesinclude various types of brushes, terry wash cloths, cellular plasticsponges, and natural sponges of various types, including the loofa.However, some articles generally tend to become soggy and limp when wetfor a short period of time. When they become soggy and limp, they havelittle, if any, value for thoroughly scrubbing and stimulating the skin.Also, they are generally slow drying, and many are prone to mildew andmold when allowed to remain wet for an extended period of time.Additionally, abrasive massages such as a salt massage, for example, arewell known in many spas. Also, mechanical abrasive cleaners, generallyin granular or cream form, are well known for cleaning and conditioningthe skin.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a new and usefulskin conditioning article. A related object is provision of such anarticle which is springy and pliable when wet or dry. Another relatedobject is provision of such an article having a body of nylon netfabric, or the like.

Another object is provision of a new and useful article for conditioningthe skin, the article having a body of springy and pliable net fabric,with provision for gathering the body to form a neck portion. A relatedobject is provision of a flexible member secured proximate an end of thebody for gathering the body together to form the neck. Another relatedobject is provision of .the fabric in the form of an open mesh nylonnet, or the like. Another related object is provision of the body havinglayers secured to each other to form a pocket for holding an article.

A further object is provision of a new and useful skin conditioningarticle including a flexible body having opposite ends and layerssecured to each other along an end edge portion and forming a pocket forreceiving an article, and an open edge portion transverse to the securededge portion for providing access to the pocket, and retaining meansproximate the secured edge portion and forming a neck portion inwardlyof the secured edge portion for retaining the article in the pocket. Arelated object is provision of the body in the form of an open meshfabric and an intermediate portion of the layers between opposite endsof the body being freely movable relative to each other. Still anotherrelated object is provision for readily releasing the retaining means tofacilitate rinsing and drying of the body and movement of the articleinto and out of the pocket. A further related object is provision of asecond retaining means at an opposite end portion of the body forforming a second neck portion and gathers extending from the neckportion, and the second retaining means being releasable, for rinsingand drying of the body.

Still another object is provision of a new and useful skin conditioningarticle including an elongated body having opposite end portions and aplurality of fabric layers for receiving soap or the like, the layersbeing secured to each other and retained in gathers proximate the endportions with intermediate portions of the layers between the endportions freely moveable relative to each other, and the layers being anopen mesh fabric which is springy and pliable when wet to facilitatesudsing of soap. A related object is provision of neck portions of thelayers and the gathers extending from the neck portions. Still anotherrelated object is provision of the fabric folded lengthwise upon itselfto form a.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 illustrates a piece of netfabric for forming the body of the skin conditioner;

FIG. 2 illustrates the piece of fabric of FIG. 1, doubled on itself fromend to end;

FIG. 3 illustrates the piece of doubled fabric shown in FIG. 2, butdoubled on itself from both side edges to complete folding of the body;

FIG. 4 is the face of the completed body opposite the face shown in FIG.3, with ties attached to complete the skin conditioner;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a single layer of the netfabric;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the skin conditioner ready for use withthe ties tightened about the body to form gathers;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the skin conditioner in stretchedcondition as compared with the relaxed condtion of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of a bar of soapbeing inserted into a pocket in one end of the skin conditioner;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the skin conditioner while stretchedacross the back;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the skin conditioner loosely wadded inone hand; as for use in conditioning the face and body; and

FIG. 11 illustrates an alternate use of the skin conditioner as a headband.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention, in brief, is directedto a skin conditioning article having a body in the form of a pluralityof layers of a springy and pliable net fabric. Preferably, the layersare secured in assembly with provision for releasably gathering thelayers to form a neck portion of the body and pleats extending from theneck portion. Such a neck may be formed at one or both ends of the body,and preferably the layers are folded from a single piece of net fabricin a manner to form a pocket for holding an article, such as a bar ofsoap, for example.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing, inthe illustrated embodiment the skin conditioning article, or skinconditioner 20 (FIGS. 4 and 6ll) has a body 22 formed from an elongatedflat piece 24 (FIG. 1) of fabric (FIG. known in the trade as nylon net(including tulle), doubled upon itself from end to end as indicated bythe arrow 26 in FIG. 2, to form two layers and a folded end edge 28transverse to the length of the fabric piece 24. Side edge portions 30of the folded fabric pieces 24 (FIG. 2) are then each folded in thedirection of the arrows 32 (FIG. 3), toward the center of one face ofthe body 22 so that open edges 34 of the side of the portions 30 layersare proximate each other and a pair of lengthwise extending folded sideedges 36 of the body 22 are formed. By way of example, initially thefabric piece 24 may be 18 inches X 72 inches (FIG. 1), so that thefinished body when flat (FIGS. 3 and 4) is 9 inches X 36 inches,although these dimensions way be varied as desired.

The fabric is preferably nylon, or the like, which is both resilient orspringy and pliable when wet or dry, and having a mesh preferably asshown in FIG. 5 of ap proximately one-sixteenth to one-half inch range.A mesh of 9% inch is preferable for normal use. As illustrated by acomparison of FIGS. 6 and 7, a 36 inch long body 22 will stretch 3 to 4inches (FIG. 7) with a reasonable pull and will recover to substantiallyits original length (FIG. 6).

The folded body 22 is preferably held in assembly in any suitablemanner, such as stitching 38 (FIG. 4) at spots proximate either end ofthe body for holding the open edges 34 together and for securing thelayers to each other. The stitching 38 may also secure suitable flexiblemembers in the form of ties 40, such as strings or tapes, to the face ofthe body 22 opposite the open edges 34. These ties 40 are preferablysecured to the body 22 intermediate the free ends of the ties so thatthey may be wrapped around the layers of the body and suitably held inplace as by a knot, or the like, to form (FIGS. 6 and 8) necks 42 andgathers in the form of folds or pleats 44 extending generallycoextensively from the necks.

With particular reference to FIG. 8, the end fold forms a pocket 46outward from the stitching 38 and tie 40, for holding an article, suchas a bar of soap 48, which becomes slightly embedding in the mesh of thenet body. The bar of soap is even more securely retained in the pocket46 when the layers are gathered by the adjacent tie 40. Either tie 40may be formed into a loop 50 (FIGS. 6 and 9) for hanging the skin conditioner from a hook or the like, preferably with the pocket 46 containinga bar of soap 48 at the lower end of the body 22 so that the soap isreadily available for use, and when disposed at the bottom end of theconditioner, as shown in FIG. 9, the bar of soap weights the body 22 formore convenient use.

FIG. 9 shows the skin conditioner in use while washing the back. Theskin conditioner body 22 may be held taut, as illustrated, or it may beheld in relaxed form, as illustrated in FIG. 6, to provide a gentlemassage.

FIG.'10 shows the conditioner 20 loosely wadded in one hand, as formassaging the face and arms.

In FIG. 11 an alternate use is illustrated. The conditioner 20 may havethe ties 40 released, so that it may be flattened, as shown in FIG. 4,and used as a head band, or with the ties 40 holding the body endportions gathered, as in FIG. 6, the conditioner may be used as a headband as shown in FIG. 11.

After use, the ties 40 may be released so that the body layers may beflattened and thoroughly rinsed of sand or other matter, and hung flatto dry more quickly. Nylon is particularly quick drying.

The net body 22, when rubbed on a bar of soap 48 I causes easy latheringof the soap and a thorough cleansing of the skin and, with or withoutlather, the net body provides a refreshing abrasive massaging actionwhen rubbed across the skin.

Any suitable lubricant may be used on the skin, such as cream, lotion,lather, or even water, for example. The skin conditioner is effectivefor removing scales from rough, dry lips when used with a lip salve orother suitable lubricant. The conditioner may be used on the entire bodyand is sufficiently pliable for cleaning between the toes, within theears and in all other body crevices. It is particularly effective incleaning the back of the neck, thus considerably reducing collar stains.As noted previously, the conditioner is quick drying after use, and thebar of soap when retained in the pocket dries more quickly than in asoap dish.

While this invention has been described with reference to a particularembodiment in a particular environment, various changes may be apparentto one skilled in the art, and the invention is-therefore not to belimited to such embodiment or environment except as set forth in theappended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A skin conditioning article comprising, a flexible body havingopposite ends and layers secured to each other along an end edge portionand forming a pocket for receiving an article and an open edge portiontransverse to the secured edge portion for providing access to thepocket, and retaining means proximate said secured edge portion andforming a neck portion inwardly of said secured edge portion forretaining the article in the pocket.

2. An article as set forth in claim 1 in which the body is an open meshfabric adapted to receive soap, and intermediate portions of said layersbetween said end edge portion and opposite end edge portion being freelymovable relative to each other to facilitate sudsing of the soap.

I 3. An article as set forth in claim 1 in which the retaining meansreleasably retains said layers in said neck portion with gathersextending from the neck portion, for releasing the neck portion andgathers to facilitate rinsing and drying of the body and movement of thearticle into and out of the pocket.

4. An article as set forth in claim 3 in which the receiving meanscomprises a flexible member secured to said body and releasablyencircling said layers.

5. An article as set forth in claim 1 including second retaining meanssecuring said layers to each other at an end portion opposite the firstsaid end portion.

6. An article as set forth in claim 5 in which the second retainingmeans retains said layers in folds.

7. An article as set forth in claim 6 in which said folds are gathers,and said second retaining means forms a neck portion of said layers.

8. An article as set forth in claim 7 in which both said retaining meansform said layers into gathers extending from the associated neck portionand releasably retain the associated neck portion and gathers forreleasing the neck portions and gathers to facilitate rinsing and dryingof the body.

9. An article as set forth in claim 8 in which said body is elongatedbetween said end portions and included at least three said layers, saidsecured end portion is a fold in said body, intermediate portions of thelayers between the retaining means are freely movable relative to eachother and the layers are nylon net having a mesh of approximatelyone-sixteenth to one-half inch to facilitate sudsing of soap, and thearticle is a bar of 5 soap.

10. A skin conditioning article comprising, an elongated body havingopposite end portions and a plurality of fabric layers for receivingsoap or the like, means securing said layers to each other and retainingsaid layers in gathers at said end portions with intermediate portionsof the layers between said end portions freely movable relative to eachother, and said layers being an open mesh fabric which is springy andpliable when wet to facilitate sudsing of the soap.

11. An article as set forth in claim in which the securing means at oneof said end portions releasably retains the layers in gathers.

12. An article as set forth in claim 11 in which the securing meansincluded means at one of the end portions retaining said layers in aneck portion.

13. An article as set forth in claim 12 in which the retaining meanscomprises a member encircling said layers and retaining said layers insaid neck portion with the associated gathers extending from said neckportron.

14. An article as set forth in claim 13 in which said retaining meansreleasably retains said layers in said neck portion and said gathers forreleasing the neck portion and the gathers to facilitate rinsing anddrying of the body.

15. An article as set forth in claim 14 in which the retaining meanscomprises a flexible member secured to said body and releasablyencircling said layers.

16. An article as set forth in claim 15 in which said securing meansincludes a second said retaining means at the other of said end portionsand said fabric is net fabric having a mesh of approximately 1/ l6 toinch.

said end edge portion providing access to said pocket.

18. An article as set forth in claim 17 in which the retaining means isat the last said end portion inwardly of said end edge portion forretaining the article in said pocket.

19. An article as set forth in claim 18 in which the retaining meanscomprises a member encircling said layers and retaining said layers insaid gathers extending from said neck portion.

20. An article as set forth in claim 19 in which said retaining meansreleasably retains said layers in said neck portion and said gathers forreleasing the neck portion and the gathers to facilitate rinsing anddrying of the body.

21. An article as set forth in claim 20 in which the retaining meanscomprises a flexible member secured to said body and releasablyencircling said layers.

22. An article as set forth in claim 21 in which said body included atleast three said layers, and said fabric is nylon net having a mesh ofapproximately 1/16 to V2 inch.

1. A skin conditioning article comprising, a flexible body havingopposite ends and layers secured to each other along an end edge portionand forming a pocket for receiving an article and an open edge portiontransverse to the secured edge portion for providing access to thepocket, and retaining means proximate said secured edge portion andforming a neck portion inwardly of said secured edge portion forretaining the article in the pocket.
 2. An article as set forth in claim1 in which the body is an open mesh fabric adapted to receive soap, andintermediate portions of said layers between said end edge portion andopposite end edge portion being freely movable relative to each other tofacilitate sudsing of the soap.
 3. An article as set forth in claim 1 inwhich the retaining means releasably retains said layers in said neckportion with gathers extending from the neck portion, for releasing theneck portion and gathers to facilitate rinsing and drying of the bodyand movement of the article into and out of the pocket.
 4. An article asset forth in claim 3 in which the receiving means comprises a flexiblemember secured to said body and releasably encircling said layers.
 5. Anarticle as set forth in claim 1 including second retaining meanssecuring said layers to each other at an end portion opposite the firstsaid end portion.
 6. An article as set forth in claim 5 in which thesecond retaining means retains said layers in folds.
 7. An article asset forth in claim 6 in which said folds are gathers, and said secondretaining means forms a neck portion of said layers.
 8. An article asset forth in claim 7 in which both said retaining means form said layersinto gathers extending from the associated neck portion and releasablyretain the associated neck portion and gathers for releasing the neckportions and gathers to facilitate rinsing and drying of the body.
 9. Anarticle as set forth in claim 8 in which said body is elongated betweensaid end portions and included at least three said layers, said securedend portion is a fold in said body, intermediate portions of the layersbetween the retaining means are freely movable relative to each otherand the layers are nylon net having a mesh of approximatelyone-sixteenth to one-half inch to facilitate sudsing of soap, and thearticle is a bar of soap.
 10. A skin conditioning article comprising, anelongated body having opposite end portions and a plurality of fabriclayers for receiving soap or the like, means securing said layers toeach other and retaining said layers in gathers at said end portionswith intermediate portions of the layers between said end portionsfreely movable relative to each other, and said layers being an openmesh fabric which is springy and pliable when wet to facilitate sudsingof the soap.
 11. An article as set forth in claim 10 in which thesecuring means at one of said end portions releasably retains the layersin gathers.
 12. An article as set forth in claim 11 in which thesecuring means included means at one of the end portions retaining saidlayers in a neck portion.
 13. An article as set forth in claim 12 inwhich the retaining means comprises a member encircling said layers andretaining said layers in said neck portion with the associated gathersextending from said neck portion.
 14. An articlE as set forth in claim13 in which said retaining means releasably retains said layers in saidneck portion and said gathers for releasing the neck portion and thegathers to facilitate rinsing and drying of the body.
 15. An article asset forth in claim 14 in which the retaining means comprises a flexiblemember secured to said body and releasably encircling said layers. 16.An article as set forth in claim 15 in which said securing meansincludes a second said retaining means at the other of said end portionsand said fabric is net fabric having a mesh of approximately 1/16 to 1/2inch.
 17. An article as set forth in claim 10 in which said fabric isfolded lengthwise upon itself to form a folded end edge portiontransverse to the length of the fabric at one of said end portion, andsaid end edge portion and said layers forming a pocket for receiving anarticle with an open edge portion of the layers transverse to said endedge portion providing access to said pocket.
 18. An article as setforth in claim 17 in which the retaining means is at the last said endportion inwardly of said end edge portion for retaining the article insaid pocket.
 19. An article as set forth in claim 18 in which theretaining means comprises a member encircling said layers and retainingsaid layers in said gathers extending from said neck portion.
 20. Anarticle as set forth in claim 19 in which said retaining meansreleasably retains said layers in said neck portion and said gathers forreleasing the neck portion and the gathers to facilitate rinsing anddrying of the body.
 21. An article as set forth in claim 20 in which theretaining means comprises a flexible member secured to said body andreleasably encircling said layers.
 22. An article as set forth in claim21 in which said body included at least three said layers, and saidfabric is nylon net having a mesh of approximately 1/16 to 1/2 inch.